It’s been amazing to see the outpouring of love for Gene Hackman, one of the greatest American actors of all time. He left behind an incredible body of work which will stand the test of time, and all of that happened before he retired in his mid-70s. By all accounts, he and his wife Betsy Arakawa lived peacefully and quietly in their New Mexico home, the same home where their remains were found this week. Alongside the lovely tributes to Hackman are the pressing questions of what the hell happened in that home and how Gene, Betsy and their dog all died. At first, people assumed it was something like carbon monoxide poisoning. At first, the local sheriff shrugged off concerns that there could be foul play or a need for an investigation. That changed over the course of the day on Thursday as journalists began asking more questions.
The actor Gene Hackman was found dead in a mud room in his New Mexico home and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, was found dead on the floor of a bathroom on Wednesday, according to a search warrant affidavit. An open prescription bottle and scattered pills were discovered near her body on a counter in the bathroom.
A dead German shepherd was found between 10 and 15 feet away from Ms. Arakawa in a closet of the bathroom, the affidavit said. There were no obvious signs of a gas leak in the home, it said, and the Fire Department did not find signs of a carbon monoxide leak.
The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement on Thursday afternoon that “there were no apparent signs of foul play.”
Autopsies on Mr. Hackman and Ms. Arakawa were performed on Thursday, the sheriff’s office said. There was no initial sign of external trauma to either of them. Carbon monoxide tests and toxicology tests were requested for both of them, it said, but the results were still pending and the causes of their deaths had not been determined.
“This remains an open investigation,” the sheriff’s office said. Detective Roy Arndt wrote in the search warrant affidavit that Ms. Arakawa was found lying on her side on the bathroom floor with a space heater near her head, the affidavit said. The deputy who found her said he suspected that the heater could have fallen with Ms. Arakawa, the filing said.
Ms. Arakawa’s body showed signs of decomposition, the affidavit said. The dead dog was found near her in a closet, and two other dogs were found alive on the property.
The deputies were called to the scene after a maintenance worker who had gone to the home to perform some work on Wednesday afternoon grew concerned when no one answered the door, the sheriff’s office said in a statement. The worker asked local security officers to conduct a welfare check, and when they arrived and saw unresponsive bodies through the window they called 911.
A pair of deputies arrived and found Ms. Arakawa in the bathroom and then discovered Mr. Hackman lying in the mud room, with his body in a similar condition to his wife’s, the affidavit said. He was found in gray sweatpants, a blue long-sleeve T-shirt, brown slippers and with a cane, the affidavit said. A pair of sunglasses was found to his left. One of the deputies on the scene said that it appeared he had “suddenly fallen,” the affidavit said.
I’m glad the sheriff’s office has stopped minimizing whatever this is and they’re now committed to a full and thorough investigation. I’m also glad that the sheriff’s office is revealing more about what they do know, like the fact that Hackman and Arakawa’s bodies were found in different rooms, and that there “were no obvious signs of trauma to the bodies and that no note had been found.” Gene’s daughter Elizabeth told the press that she believes that carbon monoxide poisoning is the most likely explanation, but it’s clear that full autopsies will have to be conducted (and are already underway). Another possible clue: a space heater was found near Arakawa’s body, and one of the surviving dogs was inside the house and found near Arakawa’s body. I really hope the death of a great actor doesn’t turn into a Dateline episode.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid.
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- FRENCH CONNECTION- Der New Yorker Drogenfahnder Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle (GENE HACKMAN) ist einem großen Drogendeal auf der Spur. Eine millionenschwere Ladung Heroin soll aus Marseille nach New York geschmuggelt werden. Bei der Übergabe des Stoffes kommt es zu einer wilden Schießerei, bei der Doyle aus Versehen einen Kollegen erschießt. Der Drogenboss Charnier aber kann entkommen… Regie: William Friedkin aka. French Connection / FRENCH CONNECTION USA 1971,Image: 136849878, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: Nur redaktionelle Nutzung im Zusammenhang mit dem Film. Editorial usage only and only related to the movie. Im Falle anderer Verwendungen, kontaktieren Sie uns bitte. For other uses, please contact us., Model Release: no, Credit line: kpa Publicity/Avalon/Avalon
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- Die Firma, Firm, The, Die Firma, Firm, The, Avery Tolar (Gene Hackman) *** Local Caption *** 1993,Image: 378682693, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: Nur redaktionelle Nutzung im Zusammenhang mit dem Film. Editorial usage only and only related to the movie. Im Falle anderer Verwendungen, kontaktieren Sie uns bitte. For other uses, please contact us., Model Release: no, Pictured: Sydney Pollack, Credit line: IFA Film/Avalon/Avalon
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- The French Connection (1971) Directed by William Friedkin,Image: 420493390, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WENN does not claim any ownership including but not limited to Copyright, License in attached material. Fees charged by WENN are for WENN's services only, do not, nor are they intended to, convey to the user any ownership of Copyright, License in material. By publishing this material you expressly agree to indemnify, to hold WENN, its directors, shareholders, employees harmless from any loss, claims, damages, demands, expenses (including legal fees), any causes of action, allegation against WENN arising out of, connected in any way with publication of the material., Model Release: no, Pictured: Gene Hackman, Credit line: WENN.com/Wenn/Avalon
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- Santa Fe, NM – The actor Gene Hackman (95) and his Wife Betsy Arakawa (63) were found dead in their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The authorities said an investigation was on going. Pictured: Gene Hackman BACKGRID USA 27 FEBRUARY 2025 BYLINE MUST READ: MediaPunch / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Santa Fe, NM – The actor Gene Hackman (95) and his Wife Betsy Arakawa (63) were found dead in their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The authorities said an investigation was on going. Pictured: Gene Hackman, Betsy Arakawa BACKGRID USA 27 FEBRUARY 2025 BYLINE MUST READ: MediaPunch / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Santa Fe, NM – The actor Gene Hackman (95) and his Wife Betsy Arakawa (63) were found dead in their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The authorities said an investigation was on going. Pictured: Gene Hackman, Betsy Arakawa BACKGRID USA 27 FEBRUARY 2025 BYLINE MUST READ: MediaPunch / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
Loved him in Heartbreakers. RIP to both, and peace to the families.
Wow it’s getting worse. Why would the German shepherd have been “in a closet in the bathroom “? The other two dogs were found alive one inside and one outside. This is all so very strange.
I’m sitting here saying to myself “I hate to speculate” yet here I go. I wondered when reading this last night if Hackman died naturally – they noted a fall which could be it in an of itself or a fall after a medical incident like a heart attack or stroke. Could his wife have committed suicide after that? Dog maybe got into the pills that they said were on the floor? Dogs going into closets (as long as the door was open) isn’t odd in and of itself, especially if the dog knows it is dying.
” I wondered when reading this last night if Hackman died naturally – they noted a fall which could be it in an of itself or a fall after a medical incident like a heart attack or stroke. Could his wife have committed suicide after that?”
But surely the wife ought to call the paramedics or someone to help with the body rather then leave him to decompose?
He was 95, death anyday is a certainty by this point.
That’s sort of the theory that’s played out in my mind as well.
It’s so tragic, whatever happened. I feel for their loved ones, and I hope they have answers soon.
One of the articles I read stated that the wife Betsy’s body was decomposing, with her hands and feet already starting to mummify. This makes me wonder if she had most likely died first: maybe she had a heart attack or some type of medical emergency while in the process of opening the pill bottle, which is what caused them to scatter all over? Meanwhile Gene was 95 and needed a cane to walk, so I’m wondering if maybe he fell while trying to get help? This whole thing is so sad and I’m also hoping that there will be answers.
Somebody in ABC World News Tonight last night said there was a doggy door where the surviving dogs presumably got outside, and the deceased dog was found in a kennel/crate. They said Gene’s body was found in the garage separately from his wife so I wonder if he found her and was trying to get out to fresh air? But also carbon monoxide turns your lips a very cartoonish cherry red and any lividity is the same bright red (instead of dark purple). I had to pick up some victims who died of CO on a boat once and it seems like CO poisoning would be very obvious to whoever found the bodies. No matter what, I wish investigative agencies would stop insisting on immediately making definitive statements [see also: New Orleans terrorist attack] and take a few minutes to think about what else might have actually happened.
USA policing seems to work to the news cycle, not the investigatory cycle. Call it the CSI effect; people think that the techs have answers on the scene or within hours. Sadly, police training in the USA is lacking in all areas, but there is no impetus to seek outside resources because “USA is the greatest country in the world, so we have no need to use the expertise of any other country, okay?!”
If municipal, state and federal agencies bothered to consult with other countries, they would find better, more efficient and most importantly, safer methods that focus on finding the right offender, not merely the most obvious.
Ah, look at me over here in dream world. Next I’ll be suggesting that removing direct funding from enforcement to compensation would reduce corruption. Tee-hee!
He was a prolific actor. I assumed it was carbon monoxide but his wife’s body was more decomposed. The heater theory is that it was on a counter and she pulled it down with her falling but still, how did both of them and the dog die? I’m going to follow this story.
I just hope this doesn’t become one of those cases where his death overshadows his great legacy. New Mexico sheriffs are not great. First, bumbling through the Rust investigation, now this.
I was wondering how one of the dogs passed but two others survived and one of the reports that I heard said that the dog who passed was in a crate. So now all I can think is that something tragic happened to Gene and Betsy and the poor dog spent days in the crate slowly dying of dehydration. I really hope that it was carbon monoxide, and it took all three of them painlessly
It was reported that here was a doggy door in the house, allowing 2 of the dogs a way out. The 3rd dog was crated and most likely starved. So sad.
This is horrific.☹️☹️
The best gift one can have is a peaceful journey to the other side in sleep, but this…………… 😞
Rest Well Sir.
I have set myself a Mississippi Burning, No Way Out, Birdcage, & Heartbreakers, marathon for this weekend.
I’m checking my (2) local library streaming platforms to see what’s available for a Hackman tribute viewing as well.
Logically he was a 95 year old, probably physically frail, and he might have been cognitively impaired, too. If his wife had a heart attack or stroke, he wouldn’t have been able to aid her and tried to go for help, fell himself, and that would be it. To me this makes a lot more sense than people saying he fell and died and his wife was so grief stricken she killed herself, cmon who does that outside of a soap opera.
Yes. There was a report last night that he had been dead for perhaps a day.
Your theory makes sense, as the door was partially open, as in going out to call for help and fell. The scattered pills are just a red herring. As she fell she took the heater with her and the pill bottles fell and opened.
by all accounts he remained physically and mentally well given his age — one would think he would have picked up the phone to request help.
But at 95, did he know how to use a cell phone? My mom and stepdad are both in their 80s, she can use a smartphone normally but by stepdad has no clue. So if they didn’t have a landline still, he may not have had a way to contact the outside world.
Perhaps he was going out to find a neighbor for immediate help.
Don’t underestimate the immediate effect of shock. No reason to necessarily assume he was cognitively impaired. Intense shock can cause someone to freeze, at least momentarily, and take a moment to sort out a response. Also, the article indicates there was maintenance being done on the property. If something happened to her and he knew someone was nearby working, possibly that’s where he was heading, and fell.
Yes, I was thinking this too, something happened to her, he was going to get help and fell. People who are 95 have fragile bones and poor balance. It’s possible they lived somewhere with spotty cell reception. My in-laws house is in a dead spot. We have to drive 1 minute to the top of the bluff to make any phone calls.
Yes that makes the most sense. There’s reporting that her hands and feet are partially mummified, which makes it all weirder, but I assume the space heater stayed on and was close enough to her extremities to dry them out. Maybe he returned from a walk and found her in distress and then fell from trying to run get help.
Even the initial reports had the potential for something very dark. Didn’t say anything as it could very well be carbon monoxide poisoning. My recollection from mystery reading is that poisoning symptoms can not be as obvious if there has been decomposition.
This is incredibly sad and the fact that they were only found days later is an extra tragic layer. At least GH reached a respectable old age in relatively decent health, but BA was young and it’s heartbreaking about the one dog. My heartfelt condolences to their loved ones. I hope the investigators find answers so they get closure.
My first thought was the wife committing suicide after he had a stroke as well. But then thinking about it: who would let their loved one lie in the mudroom and cause their dog to die as well. It does not add up. I rather think one of your guesses is correct; she died either due to CM poisoning or because of a fall and he died soon after, either when falling trying to get out or because of a heart attack.
I saw a theory that she collapsed struggling to take her medication for some kind of medical episode and the pills spilled around her as she fell. Supposedly this isn’t uncommon with panicking elderly people (though she was only 65.)
I had initially assumed Gene was bedridden and unable to summon help, but it sounds like he made it to the mud room/garage and then fell.
At 88, my mother fell in her senior apartment and wouldn’t push the button on her emergency bracelet because she “hated the loud noise.” Luckily I called her regularly, and notified the building manager when she didn’t answer her phone a couple of times.
She had spent 12-24 hours on the floor, and told me she just lay there and thought, “oh well, I guess this is it.”
She moved to the assisted living wing immediately after being released from the hospital, due to cognitive impairment more than the fall itself.
This is why it is so necessary for people who are infirmed/elderly to have the life alert buttons/somebody they check in with on a regular basis even if it’s say we’re okay see you later. You don’t have to give them your itinerary but somebody has to know each day that you are alive.
I’ve always loved Gene Hackman, and missed him in films. I thought he retired too early. Any time Enemy of the State comes on, I have to watch it. No matter how many times I’ve watched it before. Two extremely charismatic actors. (I betcha Gene Hackman would have slapped anyone who insulted his wife).
By the look of things, they lived extremely secluded lives. No one but one neighbour seemed to find their absence concerning. He looked kind of frail in that picture by the restaurant, and definitely had mobility issues. It’s odd they didn’t seem to have employed any consistent form of assistance, while they could afford it, they were both seniors, and at least the house is large enough to contain a ‘mud room’. Most likely she yelled for him while going through some sort of physical distress, and he fell when trying to rush for help. Still, that doesn’t explain the dog being inside the closet. So strange and unfortunate! I can’t even think about whether they would still be alive had someone found them or tried to reach them hours after whatever happened. Seniors must be kept on watch, no matter how healthy or independent they feel!
I am 66 and have issues with balance thanks to chemo, which caused severe neuropathy in my feet. I am in excellent condition otherwise but had to spend months with YouTube physical therapists just to develop muscles and techniques to get off the floor in the event of a fall. I have had several hard ones. The theory that he fell trying to get help is plausible. The moral of the story for older adults is wear an Apple Watch! They can alert someone in the event of a fall.